Wellness coaching, sometimes referred to as transformational health coaching is a growing field.
Coaches partner with companies to reduce health care costs, help individuals improve their lifestyle and to increase positive behaviors.
Large corporations may include coaching as part of their benefits package and may even allot time for employees to meet with the coaches on a regular basis.
It is in the best interest of the companies to incorporate this type of benefit if they truly want to invest in their employees' health.
Healthy employees are typically happier and more productive than their non-healthy counterparts.
Wellness coaching is for people who truly want to improve their way of living.
The coach will challenge the individuals to adapt new ways of thinking and being.
It is challenging to incorporate behavioral change methods on your own that produce long term results.
A wellness coach provides the map that will assist individuals in creating and reaching their vision of obtaining a healthy lifestyle.
Typically, the first step is the creation of a wellness plan that evaluates an individual's current health condition and goals.
A professional wellness coach will ensure that they are given the support needed to be successful.
They will also act as an accountability partner to ensure the actions of the clients are supporting their intended vision.
They are there to motivate you and document successes and make plans to avoid mishaps.
They are not necessarily health care providers or experts but rather mentors that have been trained in the field and may also bring additional knowledge from previous experiences or careers.
They will often times refer clients to health care professionals which may include a nutritionist, herbalist, chiropractor, massage therapist, fitness trainer, psychologist and/or physical therapist.
Wellness coaching is an extremely customized service.
The coaches are accustomed to working with clients that have specific health care challenges.
They will tailor a program to meet the needs of their clients while taking into consideration any limitations they may have.
Goals while involved in a program may include losing weight, becoming more active, quitting smoking, improving your diet, decreasing anxiety or increasing mental health.
The overall objective is for the coach to set the client on a path for achieving a long-lasting lifestyle change that produces long-term results.
If your current employer does not offer wellness coaching as part of their benefits package, you may want to discuss the option with your human resource department.